Waterproof combined electric switch and pistol grip



, Oct. l, 1946. A., A. wR`lTzMANrf1 2,408,502

WATERPROOF COMBINED ELECTRIC SWITCH. AND PISTOL-GRIP Filed Sept. 2l, 1944 56 Aggg/$11166 7l 44 Z,

59 5/ o5 os 64,/69 47 Patented Oct. l, 1946 .i j UNI-TED; y STATES, PATENT ortica f 1 v *2,408,5oa l y .WATERPROOF coMlN'EfD-y ELECTRIQ swlronAND PISTOL can, Alex AfWritzlmann, Wauwatosa, wisgjassignor to Cutler-Hammer, Inc.,`Mi1waukee,' Wis., a corporation of Delaware Applicationseptember 21, 19451, serial Np. 555,124 I 1 This inventionrelates to a Waterproof combined electric switch and pistol-grip. A` primary object of the invention is to provide a combined electric switchY andpistol-grip having novel and s implemeans for rendering the combination waterproof or water-tight.'`

Anotherobject isto provide novel means'at one end of the pistol-gripto, render thev same water-tight, Vand tov simultaneously act .as `a conductorcordtobefassocated therewith.

Another'object is toprovide a novel formf'of Yone-piece molded insulating pistol-grip tofA effect atrigger-type operating lever.`v l

`Another object'is to provide a Vmanually operable latch 'whereby the trigger lever may be retained at will in 4circuit completing position.y

Another object is to provide novel means for oscillatably supporting the device.

Another object is to provide for omission of the latch and/or supporting means without affecting the other functional or operating char-v acteristics of the device.

' Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an embodiment of the invention which will nowbe described, it being understoodYV that the embodi# ment illustrated is susceptible of modification in respect of various structural details thereof within the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view, on the line I-I of Fig. 2, of a water/- proof combined electric switch and pistol-grip constructed in accordance with my invention; the switch unit being shown in elevation.

' Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the device shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an elevational viewofthe rightY hand highly efficient-strain relief. for aV wa'terftight'v 4 Claims. (Cl. 2200-157) 2 7 key; but `it is obvious that the device is likewise adaptedfor various ordinary uses, and especially for rough usage out of doors where damage vto the switch and other electricalelements must be guarded against;v y

In the drawing the numeral' designates a one-piece molded insulating pistol-grip, the in-` sulating material employedpreferably consisting. of a phenol formaldehyde" condensation product having a relatively large percentage of cord filler materiallgfIpreferfto provide said Vpi'stol-'g'rpwith a dull 'mattgf or non-lustrous;

exterior vfinish to substantially avoid reflection ofjlig'ht. Pistolgrip 5 is provided, by the mold-1v ingoperation, with; a passage 6 extending'longitudinallyV therethrough; said passage being enlarged and shaped at the upper end thereof, as indicated at 1, to receive and properly position,

in a substantiallyiiush relation tol the liiat upper endof said pistol-grip, a switch; unit of-correspendingy contour, as shownY in general at 8. Switch 8- may be'of the single-polasnap-action type disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,326,- 23,2', granted- Au'gustlO, 1943, toAL W. Krieger, fory Electrieswitchlsee particularly Figs. 7 and 8` of said patent). However, I have herein illustrated a switch of the contour and general character shown in said Patent No, 2,326,232, but modied to provide a switch of the double-pole type. Thus in Fig. 1 hereof I have' shown switch 'Il asY provided with a two-part metal frame, as

indicated by numerals 9 and I0: th frame parts being veach independently attachedto the pair" of insulating base members or blocks II vand I2' and spaced from each other. Said frame members are? respectively provided with wiringterminal screwsdesignated by numerals I3 and I4. 'Upon engagement lof the twok contactors rofthe switch withfthe respective stationary contacts circuit will befcomplete'd between Vterminal screws' I3 and YI 5f'and between terminalk screws IllV and I6. It is to be understood that all of the terminal screws are of' like form and size andi that the frameparts 9 and I0 are'of identical form, but opnositely positioned with respect to each other;

Switch 8 has attached to the outer end of its operatingr plunger` I 'Ifan inverted cup-shaped metalcap I'8;"a coiled compressionfspring'lil being interposed between insulating block yI ly and capy I8 to bias plunger "I1 to its outeriextreme position to normally .eiect disengagement of the switch co'ntactors from .the stationary'contacts. It will thus be apparent that a predetermined degree oftefmporary depression of plunger I'I is Vrlllllld to provide for insertion of switch 8 into 3 portion 1 of the through passage 6; a beveled surface ISX (Fig. 1) being provided to facilitate such insertion.

An opening is formed by the molding operation in a wall of the enlarged portion 1 of passage S, said opening being adapted to accommodate and provide reciprocating clearance for the plunger il and cap i8 when switch 3 is fully inserted. Opening is provided with an outwardly facing annular shoulder 2l against which the peripheral annular portion 22 of a flexible, watertight diaphragm 23 is adapted to seat. Overlyfing the outer surface of portion 22 is a nat metal ring 2li. The central portion ofi diaphragm 23- is preferably initially of frusta-conical' form as illustrated, whereby the same is adapted in its. normal condition to accommodate cap I8 in its,

45 of lever 32 so that its lower end just touches the upper surface of cover member 35. A locking effect is provided between pin i3 and extension 45 by iirst tapping the opening 45, then providing a kerf 46 extending transversely at a predetermined angle through the opening 44, and then bending the lower portion 41 of the extension4 upwardly as indicated to distort the thread. thereof to a predetermined degree. This form of thread lock is well known in the art. After properly adjusting stop pin 43 the upper end of opening 44 is prefl erably filled. with a cement, or a suitable wax of outer extreme position without stretching of said' diaphragm. Opening 2b is provided with an enlarged outer cylindrical portion 25 which is provided with a.- thread 2u for cooperation with the. externally threaded molded insulating member 21, the inner end oi'. which engages. ringv 24.110 clam-p the periphery of diaphragm 2.3 in positionv Member 21 is provided with a multiplicity ofv symmetrically and. annularly arranged recesses. 28 to accommodate the: prongsy or studs of. a. known form` of wrench for tightening member 21,. v

Member 2.1. is also provided with. a central cir-- cular opening 2S with which the button i8 is. adapted to. be alined; said opening-.being adapt,- edto accommodate and guide ther cylindrical, end. portion 30 of. ametal member which is pivotally attached by pin 31| (with a predetermined deg-ree of lost motion) to the intermediate. portion. oi"A a tri-gger-type-lever 32 which` is in turn pivotally attached. by pin 33 to the perforated. extension 34 of; acast metal cover member 35. As. bestil. lustrated in Fig. 2 pin 32 is provided with a relatively long portion of relatively large diameter which is freely insertable into an openingy in one` side of extension- 34 and a. bearing opening 36 lever 32, and a reduced and threaded portion 3-1 which takes into a threaded; openingy 38. in the otherv side. of extension 34. The largev end of pin 32 is kerfed as shown, andthe end of threaded portion 311- i-s staked or upset, as indicated at 3,9 to retain said pin in assembled position.

Membei- 35 is attached to the upper end of pis-- tol-grip 5 as by meansr of three screws 0:0 (Figs. I and.2)1, the Shanks: of which take into'tapped insertsv iti. (Fig. l);y in said pistol-grip. Interposed between cover' member 3:5y and piston-grip: 5v is a fl'at diaphragm 42 formedI of rubber, or ai rubber-like material such'. as the syntheticv material sold commercially under the trade narneot neoprene; diaphragm 42 having openings to provide clearance' for the Shanks of screws dit and being otherwise imperforate, whereby the upper end of passage Bf is rendered water-tight.

Although Vthe aforementioned diaphragm .2.3 may likewise` be composed of rubber or a rubberlike material, I preferto form the same of a finequality ofA top grain leather which has been sub-V jected to a rse-tanning operation, said leather diaphragm being further suitably treated with neats-foot oil. to render the same waterproof or water-tight. LT practice the hair side of leather diaphragm 23'l is faced toward'. the outer surface of the pistol-grip.

In. order to restrain trigger lever 3% againstr counterclockwise movement from the normal position thereof illustrated in Fig. 1 I prefer to.4 em.- ploy a threaded stop pin which is initially ad,` ,iusted within a tapped opening 4d in anextension the desired color, to afford a smooth and uninl terrupted; appearance-1 to the surface of extension Formed; integrally with cover member 35 is a loop-shaped portion 4,8 which acts as a guard for trigger lever 32. The portion 49 of said loop which overlies insulating member 21 is provided with an opening 50 to alford clearance for pivoted. member 3o. and for trigger lever 3,2.

The aforementioned. operating parts are adapted for use by either a, right-handed or a lefthanded operator where thev combinationdevice o portable type. is desired. When the device is of portable type a metal plate (not shown) but of the same form in cross. section and of the same length as the arm 5.1. of ametal bracket.` 52'k (as indicated by dotted line 53 in Fig. 2) is seated within. a transverse channel or groove 54 in the upper surface of cover member 35. Such plate is. provided with clearance openings, and cover member 35 is provided with tapped openings (see Fig. 3) for cooperation with the Shanks of a pair of securing. screws` 55., 554.; the ends of. said screw shanksbeing lightlystaked. or upset over the inner surface of cover. member 35. to prevent accidental loosening thereof. Such plate will also be provided at the mid-length thereof with an unthreaded clearance opening (corresponding tov 5.6` in Fig. 1) and cover member 3.0 is provided with a tapped opening 51 to accommodate the shank of a. screw (not shown) whose primary purpose is to close said clearance opening;

However, when it is desired to provide for latching of trigger lever 32A in its extreme clockwise position. (to1 latch` the switch mechanism in circuit completing position) the last mentioned screw is omitted, and, an assemblyv comprising a special form of shaft or spindle .58v and a latch lever 59 is substituted. therefor. Shaft 58 comprises a, lower threaded shank` portion which takes` into the tapped opening 5'! in cover member 35 until the lower surface. of an integral shoulder 6L of hexagonal cross section (as shown) or other polygonal form abuts against the upper surface of the plate; a suitable wrench being employed to-,effect threaded engagement of said parts. The lower end of portion 65 is staked or upset over the lower surface of cover member 35 to prevent loosening of the shaft. Shaft 53 is provided with an integral cylindrical portion 52 and a reduced and threaded upper end portion t3. A coi-led compression spring 64 is seatedupon the upper surface of said plate and surrounds the hexagonal portion 6 Il; the latch lever 59 having a circular opening to yprovide for telescoping thereof onto portion 62 of the shaft; the upper end of spring 64 being engaged byA an annular shoulder 55, whereby lever 59 is biased away trom cover member 35: A nut 63 is threaded ontothe upper shanky 63 of said shaft until the former is driven into engagement withthe shoulder formed at the upper endv o-f portion 6'2", thus compressing the spring 54 tou a predetermined degree.

The outer end of shank 63 is staked or upset to -lug 19, formed integrally with extension 45 of lever 32, in the normal position of the latter. When lever 32 is moved in a clockwise direction to its extreme position, lever 59 may be moved in a clockwise direction to bring the high level notch or surface 1| beneath lug 10, whereby ytrigger lever 32 will be maintained in a position to provide for engagement of the switch contacts pending counterclockwise 'movement of 1ever 59 to the position thereof shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. By thus providing for latching of the switch mechanism in circuit completing position, the control of the associated circuit may be transferred to another station or operator.

When it isrdesired to support the combinationv device at a fixed point while providing for oscillatory movement of the device with respect vto the support, I prefer to employ the means best illustrated in Fig. 3. Said means comprises a brackethaving the aforementioned horizontal arm 5| v(over cover member 35) and an integral vertical arm 12; the latter having a perforated, inwardly offset lower end portion 13 which seats within a countersink 14 in one side of pistolgrip 5. A screw 15 penetrates the perforation and takes into a correspondingly tapped recess -in a molded-in metal insert 16 the inner end of which is closed, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The bracket 5|, 12 is positioned as shown in the drawings to adapt the supported device for use by a right-handed operator; whereas for a lefthanded operator the position of bracket 5|, 12 will preferably be reversed; the opposite side of pistol-grip 5 having a second countersink 1'4 and Y a like metal insert 16 to provide for such reverse mounting of said bracket.

Bracket arm 12 is provided with a circular opening 11 (Fig. 3) to provide for ready outward passage therethrough of a reduced cylindrical portion 18 and a relatively larger cylindrical portion 19 of a metal member, the latter portion having an outwardly extending annular flange 80 which is adapted to abut against the inner surface of arm 12. A separately molded insulating member 8| (Figs. 2 and 3) is adapted for telescoping in the opposite direction over portions 18 and 19 (with a fairly close t thereagainst) until itengages the outer surface of arm 12; arm 12v having an outwardly extruded boss or stud 82 thereon and member 8| having a recess 83 to rather closely it said boss, whereby member 8| may be lo-cked against rotation or angular displacement vvith respect to arm 12. Member 8| is provided at its outer end with a countersink or annular recess 84 within which the still further reduced or thinned outer end of portion 18 is spun or upset, as indicated at-85 in Fig. 3, to rigidly, permanently and immovably secure said parts to arm 12.

A specially formed shaft has a cylindrical portion 86 which is-insertable toward the left into, and adapted to serve as a bearing for, the cylindrical portion 18; said shaft having an integral collar S1 adapted to abut against upset portion 85 to limit the degree of inward movement. Said shaft is provided with a reduced and threaded inner end portion 89 which projects into the relatively large cylindrical portion 19, said portion penetrating a washer 89, which seats against the shoulder formed between portions 19 and 18, and being adapted to thread into a castellated nut said nut being drawn tightly enough to prevent substantial endwise displacement of the shaft in either direction. A readily 'bendable metal member has a washer-like portion 9| interposed between washer 89. and nut 90, said metal member having a pair of relatively long, thin arms 92 and 93 which are bent inwardly toward each other through a pair of alined grooves in the nut and into a kerf 94 formed in the inner end of said threaded portion 89. By the arrangement aforedescribed the combined device is supported for rotation upon the portion 86 of the shaft.

Insulating member 8| is of the shape best illustrated in Fig. 3; the curved peripheral surface 95 acting as a suitable thumb rest when the device is held in an operators right-hand. Member 8| will correspondingly act as a left-hand thumb rest when bracket 5|, 12 is mounted in reverse position, as aforedescribed.

Collar 81 projects axially beyond insulating member 8| to act as an abutment for a perforated panel or similar support; the relatively large diameter portion 96 of the shaft being adapted to penetrate such support, and having a threaded outer end 91 upon which a grooved or castellated clamping nut 98 is adapted to fit. A washer 99 is preferably interposed between nut 98 and the support (not shown). The threaded end 91 is provided with a passage |90 drilled diametrically therethrough; said passage being alined with one pair of diametrically opposed grooves in the nut to provide for insertion and bending of a cotter pin |0| to lock the nut against rotary displacement. In order to facilitate tightening or loosening of nut 98, a passage |92 is provided jointly in member 3|, portion 13 of the tubular metal member and in portion 8S of the shaft; the portions of said passage being alined in one or the other of two rotary positions of the shaft, whereby a screwdriver or the like may be inserted to lock the shaft against rotation during such tightening or loosening of nut 99.

The lower end of the pistol-grip 5 is provided with a metal insert |03 which is threaded for a portion of its vlength as shown at |94 for cooperation with the external thread IE5 upon a hexagonal-headed nut |96. The through-passage 6 includes a portion |91 of reduced diameter, below which is an annular iiared surface |98. A ring |09 of molded rubber, or other rubberlike elastic material ts loosely within the insert |93 and has opposite ends beveled outwardly toward each other to provide the surfaces lll! and A metal clamping ring ||2 is interposed between the nut |95 and member |19, ring ||2 having at its inner end a beveled surface H3. Upon inward driving of nut |65 member |99 is compressed and distorted to reduce the size of the opening I4 therethrough, thus affording a watertight clamping connection between the same and a rubber-covered conductor ,cord ||5 extending therethrough. Nut |95 is specially formed internally to accommodate (in a downward direction) a wire-cord guard I I6, whose enlarged upper end ||1 is adapted to seat against the annular shoulder I8. Adjacent the upper end of nutv |55 is an internal peripheral groove ||9 to accommodate a split spring ring |29 whereby upward' displacement of said cord guard is prevented. The individually insulated wires of the vcord are of sufdcient length to provide for attachment of the bared ends thereof to the several terminals of the switch. In practice said individual strands are made substantially longer than absolutely necessary, so that the switch may if necessary be withdrawn from the upper end of the pistol-grip for inspection without loosening the cord clamp. Also in practice the individual wires within the passage are provided with separately formed auxiliary coverings (such as shown at 12|) to protect the excess lengths of said wires against abrasion with respect to each other and the walls of the passage 6.

The exterior surfaces of the pistol-grip are provided with suitable rcughened surface portions (not shown) to afford a proper hand-grip, and to render the same attractive in appearance. As aforeindicated, however, it is preferred that such surfaces shall have a dull matt nish to minimize reflection of light.

I claim:

1. In a waterproof combined electric switch and pistol-grip, in combination, a one-piece molded insulating pistol-grip having a passage formed therein by the molding operation and extending from end to end thereof, said passage being of relatively large substantially rectangular contour at one end thereof to bodily receive a switch unit of corresponding form in transverse cross section, said end of said passage being also provided with a plurality of grooves to accommodate the circuit wires associated with said switch, an operating plunger forming a part of said switch and spring biased outwardly with respect thereto, said end of said passage being shaped to require inward compression of said plunger against its bias to provide for insertion of said switch, a side wall of said end of the passage having an opening formed therein to accommodate said plunger in the assembled relation of said parts, a flexible waterproof diaphragm peripherally clamped within said opening and overlying the outer end of said plunger, a metal cover member overlying said end of said passage and attached to said pistol-grip, a rubber-like flexible iaphragm interposed between said cover member and said pistol-grip, a trigger-type lever pivotally attached to said cover member, a second plunger pivotally attached to said lever and alined with said rst plunger to effect operation of the latter at will against its bias, the other end of said passage being shaped to slidably accommodate the end portion of a conductor cord having a waterproof covering thereon, said cord including a plurality of individually insulated wires for attachment to the switch terminals, a rubberlike elastic ring positioned within said last mentioned end of said passage, a nut having threaded engagement with said end, said nut being adapted to erlect axial compression of said ring to effect water-tight engagement of the inner and outer peripheries thereof with the cord and the pistolgrip respectively and to provide an effective strain relief for said cord, said trigger-type lever having an integral extension formed thereon and adapted to overlie said cover member, a manually operable latch lever also pivotally supported by said cover member, said latch lever in one extreme position thereof being adapted to provide for movement of said trigger-type lever at will to either extreme position, and said latch lever in its other extreme position ybeing adapted to retain said trigger-type lever in the extreme position of the latter corresponding to circuit completing positioning of the switch parts.

2. In combination, acne-piece molded insulating pistol-grip having a through passage formed therein by the molding operation, the upper end of said passage being relatively large and shaped to slidably accommodate and properly position a snap switch unit insertable thereinto, said switch unit comprising a frame composed of sheet metal, a pair of molded insulating members rigidly attached to the frame in spaced relationship to each other, a pair of contactors pivotally supported by the frame, a pair of stationary contacts carried by one of said base members into and out of engagement with which the contactors are jointly movable, means for effecting such movement of said contactors, said means comprising a plunger carried by the other insulating member, a coiled compression spring interposed between the last mentioned insulating member and a portion of said plunger to bias said contactors to circuit interrupting position, a side wall of said passage having an opening formed therein by the molding operation t0 afford reciprocating clearance for said plunger, said plunger extending laterally into said opening in the assembled relationship of said parts, 9, waterproof ilexible diaphragm peripherally clamped against a shoulder formed in said opening and overlying the outer end of said plunger, a metal cover member rigidly but removably attached to said pistol-grip and overlying the aforementioned end of said passage to positively restrain said switch unit against displacement, a flexible waterproof diaphragm interposed between said cover member and said pistol-grip completely overlying said upper end of the passage, a trigger-type lever pivotally supported by said cover member, a plunger pivotally attached to said lever and guided within said opening for alinement with said rst mentioned plunger, said second mentioned plunger being engageable with the outer surface of said rst mentioned diaphragm, an internally threaded hollow metal insert at the other-end of said passage, an annular beveled shoulder forming a part of Said passage at the inner end of said insert, a relatively thick ring of elastic, rubber-like material having oppositely beveled ends one of which is adapted to seat against said beveled shoulder, a metal ring the inner end of which is beveled for cooperative engagement with the other end of said rubber-like ring, and an externally threaded adjustable nut adapted for cooperative engagement with said insert to effect axial compression of said rubber-like ring to render waterproof the connection between the latter and the pistol-grip and a waterprocfed conductor cord positioned within said passage.

3. In combination, a one-piece molded insulating pistol-grip, said pistol-grip having a recess formed in one end thereof, a switch mechanism slidably insertable into said recess, a metal cover member overlying the outer end of said recess and attached to said pistol-grip to retain said switch mechanism in proper position, a flexible waterproof diaphragm interposed between said cover member and said pistol-grip and completely overlying said outer end of the recess, one side wall of said recess having an opening therethrough, a flexible waterproof diaphragm xedly positioned within said opening, an operating part of said switch mechanism being spring-biased into engagement with the inner surface of said last mentioned diaphragm, an operating element supported by said cover member, said element having a part alined with said switch operating l 9 v part and engageablewith the outer surface of said last mentioned diaphragm, a plurality of circuit wires extending from said switch mechanism to the exterior of said pistol-grip, associated clamping means affording a water-tight exit of said circuit Vwires from said pistol-grip, a metal bracket of inverted L-shape in transverse cross section, one arm of said bracket being removably secured flatwisefto the upper surface of said cover member, vthe other arm of said bracket extending downwardly in substantially parallel relationship to one side of said pistol-grip and having its lower end removably secured to the latter, a tubular metalbearing member rigidly and permanently secured to said last mentioned arm, a bolt having a cylindrical end portion upon which said bearing is adapted to rotatably t, said bolt and bearing having cooperating shoulders to prevent substantial endwise displacement of the latter with respect to the former, and means associated with the other end portion of said bolt to provide for rigid attachment thereof to a suit-y able support.

4. In combination, a one-piece molded insulating pistol-grip, said pistol-grip having a recess formed in one end thereof, a switch mechanism slidably insertable into said recess, a metal cover member overlying the outer end of said recess and attached to said pistol-grip to retain said switch mechanism in proper position, a flexible waterproof diaphragm interposed between said cover member and said pistol-grip and completely overlying said outer end of the recess, one side wall of said recess having an opening therethrough, a flexible Waterproof diaphragm iixedly positioned Within said opening, an operating part of said switch mechanism being spring-biased into engagement with the inner surface of said last mentioned diaphragm, an operating element supportedr by said cover member, said element having a part alined with said switch operating part and engageable with the outer surface of said last mentioned diaphragm, a plurality of circuit wires extending from said switch mechanisin to the exterior of said pistol-grip, associated clamping means affording a water-tight exit of said circuit wires from said pistol-grip, a metal vbracket of inverted L-shape in transverse cross section, one arm of said bracket being removably secured iiatwise to the upper surface of said cover member, the other arm of said bracket extending downwardly in substantially parallel relationship to one side of said pistol-grip and having its lower end removably secured to the latter, a tubular metal bearing member rigidly and permanently secured to said last mentioned arm, a bolt having a cylindrical end portion upon which said bearing is adapted to rotatably iit, said bolt and bearing having cooperating shoulders to prevent substantial endwise displacement of the latter withrespect to the former, means associated with the'other end portion of said bolt to provide for rigid attachment thereof to a suitable support, and means comprising a molded hollow insulating member adapted to freely telescope over said bearing member prior to attachment of the latter to said bracket and forming a part of the attaching means, said insulating member also acting as a thumb rest on said pistol-grip,

Y ALEX A. WRITZMANN. 

